Tag Archives: Inspiration

Riding the herd on the ranch or riding the herd of “pins” on Pinterest I have discovered a great truth, it’s personal. Pinterest is an experience that can both surprise and delight developing both passions and influence, while introducing new interest and trails to explore.

Ranch work often requires separating cattle into pens for branding, doctoring, transport and is done by cutting into the herd, this can be done in open fields or in the sorting pens. Cutting cattle into groups or pens, is part of rhythm of ranch life. Pinterest has a similar rhythm of sorting and pinning visually pleasing, message bearing, information and inspiration. Once you ride a cutting horse and experience the big stops and hard turns, there is no going back; it gets in your blood. The same can be said for the Pinterest participants, once you experience and share items of value on your boards of home, arts and crafts, style, fashion, and food to name a few, there is no going back, you can are hooked; it gets into your blood.

Pinterest popularity comes from its image driven visual component. Pinterest is an easy to use melting pot of interests which is driven by participants and caters to those who like to tell a visual story. Participants “pin” items they value and “like” photos or graphics that inspire them and will in turn “pin” to a personal board they create. Pinterest is entertainment powered by passions. Like any social network, and even maybe more because of this enthusiastic, growing demographic, Pinterest requires an investment in time that is both enjoyable and relaxing.

Pinterest is an ever changing assortment of interest thus keeping the field open for fresh, new experiences. A “pin” found and posted on a board is branded by the visuals, pin by pin, boards begin to share a story. Pinterest is a place to herd and corral what speaks to your heart that is fueled by inspiration, common interest, and the fun of the hunt. It’s instant gratification, discovery of a pin and then the experience of pinning and sharing what is treasured.

Pinterest is a melting pot of value based, advocators and influencers. It is a holding pen for personalized wish list, holidays, kids, parenting, teaching tools, recipes, weddings, events, books worth reading, and how-to and more which is limited only to time and discovery. Pinterest is designed to curate and share the things you love while avoiding self promotion. Pinterest is an open range for those who enjoy sharing ideas, creating a circle of influence among followers that is easily organized to access at any time. The joy found on Pinterest is a platform of interest, sharing ideas and things of beauty through visually pleasing images, creating boards that are uniquely you, while avoiding blatant self serving advertising.

Although Pinterest is invite-only, it is not difficult to get an invitation. You can request an invitation from Pinterest home page, or have a friend who is already using Pinterest send you and invitation, that is faster.

For individuals, business, brand, nonprofits, sports teams, or publications to name a few, Pinterest establishes a “herd” of opportunity to meet and to get to know markets, best customers, future customers, and future friends. Pinterest is a place to study values and to delight customers. Pinterest is a place to tell stories while offering things of beauty and be helpful, it is an enjoyable gold mine of discovery .

doWIT: Increase your ‘Circle of Influence’

Be Authentic

•Share your story, share your promise, create and or utilize images and pictures that are relevant in your customer’s lives. It is tempting to promote products, but that can be obvious, opt instead to share insights to your company and products, share the history, and tell the story behind the story. Post other interest that make (you) your brand unique; related topics, educational items, info graphics, and inspirational things; teach and inspire.

Be a Value Creator

•Pin inside and outside your industry. Analyze how people follow and share your images opening a window into what your customer’s and followers value, what they relate to, and what they view as relevant. Discover who is pinning your pins and follow them back. Add a Pinterest follow bottom to your website and promote your presence on other social networks to encourage followers.

The road to discovery started out like any other ride, Will Rogers said “A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, the other by association with smarter people.” Over the horizon is Pinterest, a frontier of opportunity; it is a growing community that thrives on authentic, inspirational, visually appealing content. It is telling the stories through photographs and graphics, creating a lifestyle, value based snapshot, of personality, brand, and aspirations. Pinterest is a circle of influence that can be as much or as little as you like, it’s depends on how far you want to ride.

Miles and miles of beauty unfolded before us as we crested the hill, the view presented a fresh look at the world and gave me an immense appreciation of the majesty of it all.

I found myself thinking about nothing in particular and about everything under the sky, all at the same time. I breathed in a breath of gratitude just to have this opportunity to take this ride, and began enjoying the view from my saddle. It was breathtaking; we were trailing cattle back to the ranch from their summer pasture. The hard work was done as we had made the push up the mountain successfully, and with the trail stretching out below I began to relax and enjoy the ride.

Quite by accident I glanced at the ground and spotted a funny looking rock. It is true, I am amused by many things and this rock reminded me of a turtle, which are a source of fascination not only for me but also for my dog. While headed to the barn last summer I saw a rock get up and take a step. Ok maybe not exactly but it looked that way. Both of us unsure of what we just saw , we stood there, frozen in time watching to see if ‘the rock’ would move again, our heads both cocked as we waited in anticipation taking a fresh look at this curious object.

It can’t always be easy for the turtle to venture out and push forward, just as it is never easy for people or business to take the steps necessary to break new trail. But somebody has to lead; they always do, is that why cream always rises to the top?

If you treat each day like a milk run, routine in nature, you can find yourself at a stand still lacking creativity, energy, and the drive it takes to lead. It is safe to tread water and go with the flow, but true joy and gratification come from not just surviving but thriving.

Last year’s arena record is this year’s rookie’s template; the bar is continually being raised. Take the opening provided, like the coach who tells his team, “you can’t make baskets if you never shoot the ball.”

The opportunity on the horizon is- the best of you. Keep taking steps, keep moving forward, take a fresh look at your surroundings, break trail just as the lead cows were doing this day and the turtle did as he made his way that sunny summer morning. Establish yourself as an expert in a distinct area. Focus on your strengths and do what it takes to keep yourself motivated and fresh, develop your talents, have faith in your ability to adapt and react. Be exceptional.

Like this:

This morning I was thinking about all my friends, family, and colleagues that attended the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and how Facebook had linked them to me.

I knew almost instantly who was winning an event, receiving images as they posted the action. It was an honor to see my nephew, Tyler Erickson receive his PRCA Rookie of the Year in Steer Wrestling buckle and title in the arena. Thanks to my Facebook friends postings and what I saw on GAC, (side note, they did a great job with the WNFR- TV coverage) I was there!

I thought back to last year at the WNFR as I did some posting from the finals. New to the game, I did not know whose voice to use, business or personal. I was tentative; my postings were more like whispers as I tested the water. That is unusual, because my voice, around our house, is sometimes known as “Judith Gap, “an inside family joke!

I was learning the ropes of social media, looking back now it was more branding than conversation, and frankly found myself lacking the confidence and the guts to go all in. Truth be told, social media waits for no one. It is an instant conversation where I found myself frustrated by what I thought; I could not, instead of focusing on what I could do.

Social media started out as a trickle that has turned into an ocean. I admit I was afraid to put my toes in the water and just jump in. But as I have learned this new wave is waiting for no one, and to be relevant an online presence is a necessity requiring guts and time. Social media is the new frontier, breaking trail for expression, business, value and connection.

Back some 20 years ago the Wagner family had a white 4-horse stock trailer that we used for everything and that we jokingly put a decal on the front of that read: NO FEAR. I loved seeing that trailer go down the road. Then it came to me, thanks to that memory, spend less time defining who you are and more time being who you are. NO FEAR I am, who I am.

I have always enjoyed marketing and telling stories. Story telling by nature, I write like I talk. I admit my wordsmithing leaves a little to be desired but I write with a passion that is heartfelt.

It came to me ….It’s WIT, Whatever It Takes; I am going to start my own blog and business Facebook page centered on WIT using Ranch Grown Logic. My goal, through this platform, is to build a network of likeminded people in the western lifestyle and western industry connected through stories, mentors, and leaders, with emphasis on value based marketing, branding, motivation and inspiration.

I am who I am, a marketer and a cowgirl who enjoys telling stories. Now is the time to pull my boots on, grab my hat, get on my horse, and ride the trail. Social media is the new frontier changing the way, the story, and the ride of the future.

All trails start with the first step: NO FEAR. You are invited, come along for the ride.

See you at the ranch.

doWIT: NO FEAR

Break Trail:

Utilize social media for expression, business, value and connection

Fine Your Voice:

Start a conversation

Got Business: Create a business Facebook page/Blog

Attract people by creating value.

Brand “U.”

Social networking is effective and personal and business branding platform for online presence and online outreach.